17U Names to Note From the PGH Victory Region Kickoff

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are a few more 17U kids I'd like to highlight from this past weekend in Bedford Park. Today, we'll look at those kids and what they did on the floor, then tomorrow, we'll look at a few other kids I saw around Bedford Park before we flip the page to next weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='728004' first='Sophia' last='Towne']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the first tournament of the season, I thought [program_tooltip program_id='716192' first='Wolverinas' last=''] looked solid each time I watched them play over the weekend. Towne played well away from the ball and paid off a few possessions with three-pointers off her defender helping on drivers. The 5'10 Nazareth Academy guard defended well enough on the perimeter and showed some toughness after physical defense from opposing teams. I thought she made an excellent account for herself over the weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='514946' first='Shania' last='James']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There may not be anyone who makes basketball look as easy as [player_tooltip player_id='514946' first='Shania' last='James']. Few regional kids are as good as her at beating her initial defender off the dribble. From that, she can do whatever she wants against an outnumbered defense. She can create for others and score from all three levels. Regardless of her choice, she'll generate an excellent offensive possession. James is one of the more entertaining kids to watch with the ball in her hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gabrielle Domerchant</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Whitney Young guard played a role as a floor spacer next to one of the elite creators in the country and had plenty of success. What I've always appreciated about her game is how direct she is with the ball. She doesn't waste time and makes quick and responsible decisions with the ball. Domerchant also moves well away from the ball. She's a smart kid who understands the impact that she can have without the ball in her hands. I imagine defenders don't enjoy chasing her around because if you get stuck on a screen for a second, it's all she needs to get a good look at the basket. The 5'8 guard does all the fundamental things well and is effective.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595865' first='Molly' last='Olson']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watching Olson play is always a treat. Her motor jumps out to me whenever I see her play. The energy she defends is contagious. The junior could not take a shot in an AAU game, and you'd still see her fingerprints all over a game. Olson may be an undersized guard, but she does an excellent job staying connected to her assignment at the hip and taking away room for opposing guards to put the ball on the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->